Newsletter comparison
It's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay? vs Our Best Jackett
Short answer: Choose Chip Zdarsky for a working creator's view of making comics. Choose Our Best Jackett for close criticism of the work on the page. Read both when you want to connect a creator's decisions with the way a finished scene lands.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
An independent guide. Scottie isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by It's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay? and Our Best Jackett. Each publication owns its name, writing, and subscription terms.
A brief from both newsletters · July 31, 2026
See both newsletters in one brief
See what made the brief, what didn't, and the original links behind every included story.
In this brief: Scottie kept the selected stories separate because they added different value.
Reader priorities
A comics reader wants to understand how contemporary superhero stories are built, from the creator's working decisions to a close reading of the finished page.
These are illustrative priorities, not a customer’s data.
What made the brief
- It's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay?4 read · 2 included
- Our Best Jackett1 read · 1 included
Scottie
Scottie example brief
July 31, 2026 · Executive brief
01 / The rundown
- Chip Zdarsky teased new Captain America and Avengers issues while highlighting how silent pages rely on close artist and colorist collaboration.
- Scott Snyder detailed his showrunning role on Absolute Batman, explaining how he balances deep character trauma against outsized superhero action.
- Zdarsky revealed his script research process on Richard Nixon ahead of upcoming Marvel storylines and convention panel appearances.
02 / The briefing
01 / main
Chip Zdarsky breaks down artist dynamics and silent comic pages
The takeaway: Chip Zdarsky shared banter with artist Ryan Stegman while rolling out *Captain America #13* and *Avengers: Armageddon #2*. The releases spotlight Cap and Doom joining forces in Hell, alongside silent pages that demonstrate pure visual storytelling through artist and colorist coordination.
Concrete details
- Avengers: Armageddon #2 features collaborative silent pages illustrated by Delio and Frank with colors by Sonia Oback.
- Captain America #13 pairs writer Chip Zdarsky with artist Ton Lima and colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Why it matters for this reader: Analyzing how Zdarsky relies on silent pages gives you a direct look at how writers give visual artists room to build superhero narrative pacing.
Original sourcesIt's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay?
02 / main
Chip Zdarsky details Nixon research and Marvel script feedback
The takeaway: Chip Zdarsky outlined his comic preparation process, balancing internet research on President Richard Nixon with positive editor notes on an upcoming script. He also pointed fans to a Q&A interview with David Harper detailing script decisions and comic mechanics.
Concrete details
- Zdarsky outlined eight upcoming releases spanning from Captain America #14 in August to The Avengers #1 in November.
- The Avengers: Armageddon SDCC panel takes place Thursday, July 3, from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. PT.
Why it matters for this reader: Following Zdarsky's editorial notes and research routines shows you how real-world historical research transforms into structured superhero scripts.
Original sourcesIt's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay?
03 / main
Scott Snyder details Absolute Batman mechanics on five-year anniversary
The takeaway: Marking five years of Best Jackett Press, Scott Snyder discussed showrunning the *Absolute Batman* animated series alongside artist Nick Dragotta. Snyder explained his 'barbell theory' of storytelling, which pairs extreme character trauma and PTSD with outsized superhero tropes and villain designs.
Concrete details
- Best Jackett Press reached its five-year anniversary after launching as a Substack grant and teaching initiative.
- Snyder interviewed Frank Miller about his new memoir Push the Wall, which blends personal autobiography with creative lessons.
Why it matters for this reader: Snyder's 'barbell theory' offers a clear conceptual tool for evaluating how modern superhero writers balance intense personal drama against extreme genre spectacle.
Original sourcesOur Best Jackett
Action items
- Read Frank Miller's new memoir Push the Wall to study his practical advice on comic writing and art.
- Examine the silent pages in Avengers: Armageddon #2 to analyze how visual mechanics function without dialogue.
See every issue behind this brief
Zdarsky and Stegman Debate Captain America #13
- Sad Spidey ReturnsIt's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay? · Included
Sex Criminals adaptation
- SEXECUTIVE PRODUCERIt's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay? · Read, not included
Internet Research and Editorial Notes in Comic Craft
- Stillwater Now More Than EverIt's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay? · Included
Chip Zdarsky comic con
- San Diego, Here I Come WooooIt's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay? · Read, not included
Scott Snyder Celebrates Five Years with Absolute Batman
- Newsletter #237: Celebrating Five Years of BJP w/ Absolute Batman the Animated Series & Frank Miller!Our Best Jackett · Included
The useful difference
The difference that matters
Chip Zdarsky writes from inside an active comics career, with class notes, project news, and firsthand production context. Our Best Jackett studies published scenes and the wider superhero field from a critic's point of view.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
What each is best for
It's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay?
Chip Zdarsky contributes firsthand lessons about scripting, current projects, conventions, and the choices that shape comics before they reach readers.[1][2][3]
Our Best Jackett
Our Best Jackett contributes scene analysis, creator reporting, and sustained criticism of superhero comics across publishers and adaptations.[4][5][6]
When it’s worth reading both
Together they connect process with interpretation. Scottie can keep a creator's practical lesson beside a relevant scene analysis while leaving unrelated project updates separate.[1][2][3][4][5][6]